NZ Transport Agency

24 September 2008

NZTA Board to decide on cycleway proposal by end of the year

The NZ Transport Agency Board will decide by the end of the year whether to recommend that a proposal for a walkway/cycleway on the Auckland Harbour Bridge be progressed.

NZTA chair Brian Roche said today that the NZTA fully supported walking and cycling as important contributors to Auckland’s transport mix and for that reason the Board was carefully considering the issue.

“Cycling is well represented around our Board table, as are the different views on the proposed walkway and cycleway. As a result of our recent discussions, the Board has asked for more information on several points.

“The Board wants to make sure the proposed walkway/cycleway is seen in the context of the requirements for Auckland’s wider cycling network. All the parties involved will need to be satisfied that a harbour bridge walkway/cycleway represents the best use of money in developing that network.”

Mr Roche said the NZTA Board was keen to better understand the wider operational and cost implications of the proposed walkway/cycleway before deciding whether to recommend the project to the Auckland Regional Transport Authority for prioritisation alongside other regional transport projects.

“It’s not as simple as saying it will cost between $24million and $43 million. For example, connecting the cycleway to the existing network at either end of the bridge alone could cost up to $18 million. There are also additional costs associated with the operational impacts.”

The points the Board sought further information on were:

• safety issues associated with walking, cycling and roading;
• technical aspects of the bridge structure;
• the impact adding a cycleway would have on the existing economic life of the bridge;
• any impact the project would have on bringing forward an additional crossing of the Waitemata Harbour.

Mr Roche said the Board would continue to talk to its regional transport partners on this issue over the next few months.

“We are happy to continue dialogue with the region on this issue, but want to make sure the proposal is seen as a priority relative to other transport projects in the region.”

ENDS

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